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Zed Chebib
Canadian hunger striker, born 1955 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Zed Chebib (Born Ziad Khoder Chebib, 1955[1]) is a Lebanese-born Canadian limousine driver and police reform advocate who is most known for being deported from Australia despite having resided in the country with his family for over a decade.[2] He was a candidate in the 2022 Ottawa mayoral election, finishing in last place with 0.08% or 264 votes.
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Biography
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Born in Lebanon, Chebib emigrated to Canada in 1976.[2] He resided in Calgary where he operated a limousine business named Limocab and became a naturalized citizen.[3][4] While working as a cab driver, Chebib often sued various taxi companies.[4][5]
He emigrated to Australia alongside his wife and four children in 1999 due to two of his siblings already living there.[6][7] According to Chebib, 85 members of his extended family live in Australia.[8] He attempted to seek permanent residency in Australia but was rejected because he was unable to meet income requirements of a business visa.[7]
In 2006, immigration authorities informed Chebib that his initial visa had expired, however, he was granted a temporary reprieve from the Australian government.[6] He tried to appeal to Canadian diplomats, but was rejected.[9][10] While being detained at Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre in 2010 he began a hunger-strike in hopes the Australian government would grant him a visa.[11][12] Chebib was flown to Vancouver and then Toronto, after ending his hunger strike he claimed to suffer heart palpitations and was denied an ambulance.[11]
On returning to Canada, Chebib protested outside of the Australian Embassy where Ottawa Police allegedly attacked and arrested him.[13] He filed a lawsuit against the officers, claiming that they had breached his civil rights and seeking nearly 2 Million Canadian dollars in damages. After nearly nine years of trial, a judge ordered him to pay each officer $1,000 due to evidence that the arrest did not cause his injuries.[13]
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Political campaigns
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1988 Calgary City Council by-election
Chebib first ran for political office in September 1988, entering a by-election for the fifth ward of the Calgary City Council.[14][15] The fifth ward had a large middle eastern and Indian community at the time.[14] Chebib's campaign was oriented toward building a new high school and reforming the city transit system.[14] He finished third out of four candidates.
2022 Ottawa mayoral election
He ran for Mayor of Ottawa in the 2022 Ottawa mayoral election, campaigning on police and housing reform.[1][17] Not having a campaign website, he sent a website describing solutions to homelessness to media.[18] He finished in last place with 0.08% or 264 votes.
2025 federal election
Zebib is an independent candidate for the riding of Ottawa Centre in the 2025 Canadian federal election.[21]
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References
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